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What We Do

The Tahirih Justice Center works to protect immigrant women and girls seeking justice in the United States from gender-based violence. Tahirih’s innovative and comprehensive approach leverages pro bono resources to provide a combination of legal services, advocacy, and public education programs. Through this coordinated effort, Tahirih seeks to ensure the protection and safety of our clients, as well as their long-term well-being by raising their voices in the public policy arena, informing the public of the unique challenges immigrant survivors of violence face, and, ultimately, creating lasting legal and social change.

The Tahirih Justice Center is an organization fueled by an outpouring of support from concerned individuals throughout the world. Your financial donations will enable us to continue protecting and providing care for vulnerable immigrant women and girls. From one-time donations, to sustaining contributions, to honorary gifts, there are a variety of ways to make a difference.

Raising Awareness of our Clients’ Challenges

Tahirih actively engages in outreach activities to ensure the public and those working on issues of gender-based violence are aware of the unique challenges and obstacles faced by our clients. Tahirih educates others about the issues facing immigrant women and girls and the legal remedies available to them by training police officers, judges, prosecutors, legislators, social and medical service providers, as well as other groups serving immigrant women and girls. We also speak at universities and law schools around the country and raise awareness at community religious institutions such as mosques, churches, and temples.

Special Outreach Efforts

In addition to training and education for a wide range of audiences, Tahirih engages in the following special outreach projects:

Training for Virginia Law Enforcement and Others (Virginia Office):

In partnership with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, Tahirih has conducted multiple statewide trainings to law enforcement, magistrates, social service agencies, and court personnel on cultural competency and immigration relief for battered immigrants.

Story of Change

The U Visa: Serving Victims of Crime

Kristina* was the victim of rape when she was only twelve years old. Her stepfather forced her to engage in sexual relations against her will and threatened that if she told anyone what he was doing, he would leave the family and they would all starve… Read more

Victims of Crime Project (Virginia Office):

Pioneering the use of the new U visa established under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act, Tahirih provides representation for immigrant women and girls who have been victims of violent crimes and who are willing to collaborate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of the crime. Since 2007, Equal Justice Works has generously funded a full-time Fellow who works solely on representing U visa cases, as well as educating law enforcement personnel, professionals working with immigrant women and girls, and the immigrant communities themselves on the protections available to immigrant victims of crime.

Request a Training or Speech

If you are interested in Tahirih staff conducting a training or giving a speech at your organization, please email services@tahirih.org.Sign up to learn more about our work.

Underserved Latina Population Project (Virginia Office):

The need for culturally competent legal services among the Latina community has risen dramatically in recent years. To address this urgent need for services and education, Tahirih receives funding from Virginia’s STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution) program and has a full-time staff attorney who solely represents Latina women and girls fleeing domestic violence, and performs outreach to providers working with Latina victims.

Muslim Outreach Project (Virginia Office):

Due to generous funding for a full-time Fellow from the New Voices fellowship program, during 2006-2008, Tahirih developed and implemented a Muslim outreach effort. As part of the effort, Tahirih’s Fellow provided direct legal services to Muslim women and girls fleeing gender-based violence. In addition, she conducted outreach into the Muslim community surrounding the issues of gender-based violence in the community. As part of the project, Tahirih developed the Muslim Outreach Brochure. Although the fellowship has ended, Tahirih has continued to conduct special outreach to the Muslim community and will continue its commitment to providing access to justice to all immigrant women fleeing gender based violence.